Friday marks official start date for SCCPSS teachers

Classroom at Haven Elementary being set up for the start of the new school year. (Source: WTOC)

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -

Teachers in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System will officially return to the classroom on Friday.

There's a lot to look forward to in the 2017-18 school year for SCCPSS. Students and teachers will have three new schools this year.

Friday, July 28 is the official start for teachers. SCCPSS Superintendent Dr. Ann Levett says there are about 3,500 teachers in the school district.

With Haven Elementary being a new school, teachers are already getting their classroom ready for students.

"Teachers are already back and they've been setting up their classrooms and getting ready for the students to return next week. Teachers are people who really put a lot of time and preparation into getting ready for the school year. The start of the school year is a special time for us. We prepare bulletin boards, prepare lessons, and we want our classroom and building to look 'just so," said Dr. Ann Levett, SCCPSS Superintendent.

"Even though you've been teaching a while you have things set up like you want them, there's always tweaking that needs to be done and some changes from the following year that you want to make adjustments too and that kind of thing. I think all teachers always spend extra time in the summer preparing for their new year," said Cindy Jeffries, Teacher, Haven Elementary.

Dr. Levett says student achievement is the goal for the upcoming school year.

"First of all, just to get all of our young people in school would be great, but secondly, to focus on improving student achievement. That's always our goal, and specifically, to accelerate achievement in our schools that have not performed as well. They made tremendous progress last year, and we want to keep that progress growing," said Dr. Levett.